WASHINGTON DC (PTTP)- The parent company of Ticketmaster, Live Nation, has settled its District of Columbia lawsuit for $9.9M after it was accused of deceptive ticket pricing practices. This was after an investigation by DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, prompted by allegations that Live Nation had misled customers about ticket prices, charged fees, and used illegal pressure tactics to incentivize fans to buy tickets.
The Office of the Attorney General investigation revealed that the multinational entertainment company concealed the full ticket price until the customer reached the final checkout page, where hidden mandatory fees were revealed. This violates consumer protection laws because it limits a customer’s ability to make informed purchasing decisions before they purchase tickets. Pressure tactics, such as countdown clocks indicating that tickets were about to sell out, were also uncovered in the investigation, prompting customers to make less timely decisions about paying for concert tickets.
Live Nation owns and operates hundreds of venues in the US, enabling it to manage artists, promote concerts, and book tours after its merger with Ticketmaster. According to Schwalb, these practices have been taking place for over a decade, and about $8.9 million in settlement funds will be distributed to Live Nation customers, with further updates on claims expected in the next couple of months. This settlement comes less than a week after a Manhattan federal jury found that the company held an illegal monopoly in the live entertainment industry, allegedly pushing out competitors and driving up ticket prices for American consumers.